I was at my national business conference and the CEO of our company had implemented a new system to have our businesses run more efficiently. It intergrates everything including my outlook, client portfolios, and SQL reports that our front office runs all under one program. Great program and I definately am on board.

In order for us to minimize devices the CEO is buying all account managers new mobiles that are compatable with the new program. Great, free phone. One thing that was mentioned though was a GPS will be installed in each and every phone. It will track our day to day appointments.

Is this right? I feel it's an invasion of privacy. I don't cheet on appointments but is it right for him to track our every moves?
Thoughts?

I was at my national business conference and the CEO of our company had implemented a new system to have our businesses run more efficiently. It intergrates everything including my outlook, client portfolios, and SQL reports that our front office runs all under one program. Great program and I definately am on board.

In order for us to minimize devices the CEO is buying all account managers new mobiles that are compatable with the new program. Great, free phone. One thing that was mentioned though was a GPS will be installed in each and every phone. It will track our day to day appointments.

Is this right? I feel it's an invasion of privacy. I don't cheet on appointments but is it right for him to track our every moves?
Thoughts?

I would definitely ask Human Resources, how this is intended to implemented because it does seem there is a potential for abuse. You also don't have too much leeway. Don't know how it is in Canada, but in the US an employer can monitor employees, use of "work computers and equipment."

Is most of your day appointment based? There can be valid reasons they are doing this, like they going to look at aggregate date and determine trends based on that. But they could just as easily track your hour to hour movements. Also are you expected to have these phones active when you're off work? Because that GPS isn't going to shut off.

I was at my national business conference and the CEO of our company had implemented a new system to have our businesses run more efficiently. It intergrates everything including my outlook, client portfolios, and SQL reports that our front office runs all under one program. Great program and I definately am on board.

In order for us to minimize devices the CEO is buying all account managers new mobiles that are compatable with the new program. Great, free phone. One thing that was mentioned though was a GPS will be installed in each and every phone. It will track our day to day appointments.

Is this right? I feel it's an invasion of privacy. I don't cheet on appointments but is it right for him to track our every moves?
Thoughts?

yeah if they're giving you the phone and not forcing you to install it on your phone its perfectly legit. a lot of companies put GPS in their drivers vehicles to track where they go, or how much time they spend at one place.

I would definitely ask Human Resources, how this is intended to implemented because it does seem there is a potential for abuse. You also don't have too much leeway. Don't know how it is in Canada, but in the US an employer can monitor employees, use of "work computers and equipment."

Is most of your day appointment based? There can be valid reasons they are doing this, like they going to look at aggregate date and determine trends based on that. But they could just as easily track your hour to hour movements. Also are you expected to have these phones active when you're off work? Because that GPS isn't going to shut off.

Most of my day is appointment based. I work as a business consultant and work from home. My mobile doubles as my personal mobile as well so yes I have it on at all times.

This system we have already schedules our appointment to Outlook for review and after every appointment we are required to make reports detailing meetings. So tracking where we go wouldn't really add any additional input.

yeah if they're giving you the phone and not forcing you to install it on your phone its perfectly legit. a lot of companies put GPS in their drivers vehicles to track where they go, or how much time they spend at one place.

Problem is that the GPS doesn't shut off. I really don't want to reveal what I do on my down time. I have nothing to hide, but I still feel invaded.

If there is a way to only monitor the employees while they are at work, then I can see it fitting in the job description. If it is used at all regarding your personal life, that is just wrong, and should be a sue-able offense IMO for invasion of privacy. And even then, regarding the use at work, it certainly doesn't equate to trust in employees, so even though I think the employers have the right to use this technology at work, I don't know if it is the smart thing to do for all businesses. If you are uncomfortable with it, I'm guessing others are too.

Heezy, like one of the other posters said, you need to get right down to Human Resources. I worked in HR for a year, and if American law is anything like NZ law, that is a total privacy breach. Your employer has no business what you do in your spare time, or tracking you. It would be a real pain in the ass if you were lying for a sick day, but were really at an amusement park or beach